Page 107 - The Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia

one Abdul Rchmim Sarija. “M.E.F." on this cancellation stood for
“Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force".

I

£ -»20 AUG.I9 2 3JLY. 23

&
/
8
Type 3. Type 4. Type 5.
•V
In early 1918a proposal was made that the Kuwait Post Office
should cease to be administered by the Army and should come under
the Civil Postal Administration of Iraq, as successors to the Mesopot­
amian Expeditionary Force, “for the period of the war and during the
f
evacuation of British Forces from Arabistan”. It was not, however,
until August 1st, 1921, that this transfer was effected; and the
Kuwaitis, having enjoyed for six years the benefits of Indian Inland
and Imperial Penny Postage rates, did not take well to the change
which brought with it the higher Iraq postage rates. As is later recorded,
the Iraqi Post Office again assumed control in 1929; and it seems likely
that, at some time between 1921 and 1929, the Kuwait Post Office
reverted temporarily to Indian administration.

The English spelling of Kuwait was changed in the early 1920s to
a more accurate rendering of the Arabic sound; and the telegraphic
canceller soon appeared with the new spelling (Type 4). Almost all
K.G.V Indian, unoverprinted, Single Star values to 15r. may be found
with this cancellation; and it is also known on K.E.VII 5r. and 15r.
Service stamps. It is recorded cancelling a strip of five stamps on a
postal piece.
B This canceller was not supplied by the Indian P. and T. Forms and
Seals Department at Aligarh and is not recorded in their proof books.
It seems almost certain therefore that it was - even at this late date — of
military origin and was supplied from Army sources in Iraq; “M.T.D.”
standing for “Military Telegraph Department”. It may, of course, have
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